Weekly Newsletter
Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
What would you say if I told you that there is something God cannot do? Now, before you throw that first stone, hear me out. While the Bible clearly states that “nothing is impossible with God” (Lk.1:37) and “with God all things are possible” (Matt.19:26), it also clearly states that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb.6:18). This assertion does not diminish God in any way. In reality, it serves to further describe the fullness of God’s divine sovereignty and supremacy.
God cannot cease to be God. Nor can He act contrary to His divine character or nature. Scripture states that God “cannot disown Himself” (2Tim.2:13). For example, God’s self-existing eternality reveals that He cannot die (Ps.90:2; Jn.5:26). The fact that He is all-powerful dictates that He cannot be defeated, and no plan of His can be thwarted (Jer.32:17; Job 42:2). Since God is perfectly holy and absolutely sinless, He “cannot be tempted by evil” (Jms.1:13). Because God completely and concurrently knows all things He “cannot be mocked” (Gal.6:7). Likewise, the attributes of God’s trueness and faithfulness confirm that He cannot lie. God’s Word repeatedly declares this to be true:
At this point, someone may be wondering, “Is this just some doctrinally nuanced conundrum that navel-gazing theologians love to contemplate?” (on a par with “How many angels can dance on a head of a pin?” or “Did Adam have a bellybutton?”). Hardly. The faithfulness of God, the truth of God’s Word, and the trustworthiness of His promises are anything but trivial matters. The very reality of our salvation is wholly dependent on the reliability of God’s character and nature. For God has given us His Word that all those who receive Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be saved.
What would you say if I told you that God could lie? Now there’s an incredibly unsettling thought! For if God was not always completely and perfectly true, He would not be trustworthy, His Word would not be reliable, and His promises would be empty. But God is not a liar. His Word is true. His promises never fail. Therefore, God is absolutely worthy of all our faith and hope and worship. He has promised to never leave nor forsake us (Matt.28:20; Jn.14:3; Heb.13:5).
Do you realize that by God’s divine nature those who belong to God in Christ are absolutely and infinitely secure in Him? How can we be so sure? Because God gave us His Word. Therefore, we can be resolutely “convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.8:38-39).
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #24):
Leviticus 1-3; 1 Kings 10-13; Psalm 69-71; Proverbs 4; Ezekiel 1-6; Luke 11-12; Ephesians 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Knowing God” by J.I. Packer
What would you say if I told you that there is something God cannot do? Now, before you throw that first stone, hear me out. While the Bible clearly states that “nothing is impossible with God” (Lk.1:37) and “with God all things are possible” (Matt.19:26), it also clearly states that it is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb.6:18). This assertion does not diminish God in any way. In reality, it serves to further describe the fullness of God’s divine sovereignty and supremacy.
God cannot cease to be God. Nor can He act contrary to His divine character or nature. Scripture states that God “cannot disown Himself” (2Tim.2:13). For example, God’s self-existing eternality reveals that He cannot die (Ps.90:2; Jn.5:26). The fact that He is all-powerful dictates that He cannot be defeated, and no plan of His can be thwarted (Jer.32:17; Job 42:2). Since God is perfectly holy and absolutely sinless, He “cannot be tempted by evil” (Jms.1:13). Because God completely and concurrently knows all things He “cannot be mocked” (Gal.6:7). Likewise, the attributes of God’s trueness and faithfulness confirm that He cannot lie. God’s Word repeatedly declares this to be true:
“God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19).
“He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind” (1 Samuel 15:29).
“[God’s] word is truth” (John 17:17).
“God … does not lie” (Titus 1:2).
At this point, someone may be wondering, “Is this just some doctrinally nuanced conundrum that navel-gazing theologians love to contemplate?” (on a par with “How many angels can dance on a head of a pin?” or “Did Adam have a bellybutton?”). Hardly. The faithfulness of God, the truth of God’s Word, and the trustworthiness of His promises are anything but trivial matters. The very reality of our salvation is wholly dependent on the reliability of God’s character and nature. For God has given us His Word that all those who receive Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior will be saved.
“Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…” (Hebrews 6:16-19).
What would you say if I told you that God could lie? Now there’s an incredibly unsettling thought! For if God was not always completely and perfectly true, He would not be trustworthy, His Word would not be reliable, and His promises would be empty. But God is not a liar. His Word is true. His promises never fail. Therefore, God is absolutely worthy of all our faith and hope and worship. He has promised to never leave nor forsake us (Matt.28:20; Jn.14:3; Heb.13:5).
Do you realize that by God’s divine nature those who belong to God in Christ are absolutely and infinitely secure in Him? How can we be so sure? Because God gave us His Word. Therefore, we can be resolutely “convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.8:38-39).
Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David
Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #24):
Leviticus 1-3; 1 Kings 10-13; Psalm 69-71; Proverbs 4; Ezekiel 1-6; Luke 11-12; Ephesians 1-3
Recommended Reading:
“Knowing God” by J.I. Packer
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